Huseyin Isildak

Pott's Puffy Tumor

Potts Puffy tumor is a rare clinical entity characterized by subperiosteal abscess associated with osteomyelitis. It is usually seen as a complication of frontal sinusitis or trauma predominantly in the adolescent age group. Potts Puffy tumor can be associated with cortical vein thrombosis, epidural abscess, subdural empyema, and brain abscess. The cause of vein thrombosis is explained by venous derange of the frontal sinus, which occurs through diplopic veins, which communicate with the dural venous plexus; septic thrombi can potentially evolve from foci within the frontal sinus and propagate through this venous system. An apparently healthy 7-year-old girl presented to the emergency service of otolaryngology with complaints of swelling of forehead and periorbital zone, headache, chills, fever, and rhinorrhea. The patient described in this case report had 2 important complications of paranasal sinus disease: the relatively common complication of postseptal cellulites and the less common complication of Potts Puffy tumor.

Evaluation of nasal cytology in subjects with chronic rhinitis: a 7-year study

BACKGROUND No diagnostic test had been specifically developed to diagnose nonallergic rhinitis (NAR). Also a negative nasal smear for eosinophils does not rule out the diagnosis. There is a significant diagnostic problem in patients with NAR. How can we solve this problem? OBJECTIVES Assessment of other cells than eosinophils present in the cytogram such as basophils, neutrophils, and goblet cells may help us to classify and management of diagnostic problem of rhinitis. We sought to characterize the cellular pattern of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and compare them with those of NAR. METHODS According to the skin prick test positivity or negativity, individuals were divided into AR and NAR groups, respectively. Allergic rhinitis group was further divided into seasonal, perennial, and mixed subgroups. Nonallergic rhinitis group was also divided into the following 5 subgroups according to the nasal smear cytologic result: basophilic, neutrophilic, eosinophilic, mixed, and nonallergic noninfectious type. So the frequency rates of the subgroups were calculated and also smear cytologic results were compared. RESULTS Frequency of AR was approximately equal to NAR in subjects with chronic rhinitis. Neutrophilic, eosinophilic, mixed, and nonallergic noninfectious types were the common types of NAR. An evident nasal eosinophilia was found in AR and eosinophilic NAR, whereas a higher percentage of goblet cells were determined in nonallergic noninfectious rhinitis. There is no significant difference between cytologic results from NAR and AR patients. CONCLUSION In the patient with positive skin test result, the presence of nasal eosinophilia strongly supports the diagnosis of AR. No diagnostic test had been specifically developed to diagnose chronic NAR. Also, a negative nasal smear for eosinophils does not rule out the diagnosis. Assessment of other cells present in the cytogram such as basophils, neutrophils, and goblet cells may also provide valuable information for differential diagnosis and management of these conditions.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension syndrome accompanied by bilateral hearing loss and venous engorgement in the internal acoustic canal and positional change of audiography.

Hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo are very common complaints in otolaryngology practice. Here, we describe spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) as a curable reason of hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. A 29-year-old woman presented to the emergency room with nausea, dizziness, vertigo, instability, hearing loss, tinnitus, and neck and back pain. Cranial computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and lumbar puncture were performed. The patient stated that the hearing loss and tinnitus became worse after effort or standing for prolonged times. Therefore, we performed audiogram in sitting and standing positions. The tinnitus severity index was used to evaluate tinnitus. Lumbar puncture revealed no cerebrospinal fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid could be obtained by aspiration. Cranial MRI showed dural thickness and venous engorgement in the internal acoustic canals bilaterally. Audiography showed worse hearing capacity in standing position than in sitting position and revealed especially low-frequency hearing loss bilaterally. The patients tinnitus severity index was 48 of 60. The patient was diagnosed as having SIH and treated with autologous blood punch. Cranial MRI and audiogram were normal after the treatment. The patient had no tinnitus after the treatment. Spontaneous intracranial hypotension, which may cause Ménière syndrome-like symptoms, is a curable reason of hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. In addition, the fluctuation of the hearing loss with positional changes supports the use of positional audiometry when evaluating hearing loss-related SIH. Venous engorgement in the internal acoustic canal may be related to the symptoms.

Management of paragangliomas in otolaryngology practice: review of a 7-year experience.

Background and Aims:Paragangliomas of the head and neck are highly vascular lesions originating from paraganglionic tissue located at the carotid bifurcation (carotid body tumors), along the vagus nerve (vagal paragangliomas), and in the jugular fossa and tympanic cavity (jugulotympanic paragangliomas) and should be considered in the evaluation of all lateral neck masses. The aim of this study is to review an institutional experience in the management of these tumors. Materials and Methods:Twenty-six patients with 27 paragangliomas were treated in our institution during a period of 7 years (2000-2007). There were 15 women (57.6%) and 11 men (42.4%) with a mean age of 33.5 years. A painless lateral neck mass was the main finding in 16 patients (61.5%). There was no evidence of a functional tumor. Carotid angiography was performed on all of our patients (100%) to define the vascular anatomy of the lesion. Twenty-two paragangliomas (of the 25 operated paragangliomas; 88%) underwent selective embolization of the major feeding arteries. We performed surgery on 24 (92.3%) patients. Two patients were treated with radiotherapy. Results:Most lesions were paragangliomas of the carotid bifurcation (n = 14 [51.8%]), whereas 6 patients were diagnosed with jugular (22.2%), 1 with a vagal (3.7%), 1 with a tympanic paraganglioma (3.7%), 2 with jugulotympanic paraganglioma (7.4%), and 1 with laryngeal paraganglioma (3.7%). In 1 patient (3.8%), bilateral paragangliomas in the carotid bifurcation were detected. There was an evidence of malignancy in all cases (3.8%). Preoperative embolization has proven successful in reducing tumor vascularity in approximately 22 (of 25 who accepted surgery; 88%) paraganglioma patients. The common preoperative complication was vascular injury, which occurred in 6 (23%) of 26 patients; the main postoperative complication was transient cranial nerve deficit in 4 (15.3%) of 26 patients; and a permanent Horner syndrome was documented in 2 patients (7.6%). Cerebrospinal fluid leak occurred in 1 patient (3.7%). Postoperatively, stroke was occurred in 1 patient (3.7%). Two patients with jugular paraganglioma were treated with irradiation because of skull base extension with significant symptomatic relief. Conclusions:The primary therapeutic option for paragangliomas is complete excision of tumor with preservation of vital neurovascular structures. Combined therapeutic approach with preoperative selective embolization followed by surgical resection is the safe and the effective method for complete excision of the tumors with a reduced morbidity rate.

Management of jugular paragangliomas in otolaryngology practice.

Paragangliomas of the head and neck are highly vascular lesions originating from paraganglionic tissue located at the carotid bifurcation (carotid body tumors), along the vagus nerve (vagal paragangliomas), and in the jugular fossa and tympanic cavity and should be considered in the evaluation of all lateral neck masses. The aim of this study was to review an institutional experience in the management of jugular paragangliomas. Thirteen jugular paragangliomas (Fisch classifications C and D glomus jugulare) were treated in our institution during a period of 5 years (2003-2008). All patients with adequate follow-up and complete records (13 cases) were reviewed with emphasis on the results of surgical management and the factors influencing them. Coupled with the residual tumors in 2 patients, the surgical control achieved was 82%. No recurrence was seen. All patients were subjected to digital subtraction angiography to define the vascular supply of the tumor. Microcoil embolization of 11 jugular paragangliomas (all [100%] of the patients who accepted the operation) was performed during the initial digital subtraction angiography. There was no perioperative mortality. There was one case of perioperative cerebrospinal fluid leak, which was repaired during the surgery. The facial nerve was preserved in all of the patients. The overall preservation rate of lower cranial nerves was 54% (7 of 13). Two patients with residual jugular paraganglioma were posttreated with irradiation (gamma knife) owing to skull base extension with significant symptomatic relief. Two patients who refused the surgical treatment were managed by stereotactic radiosurgery. The primary therapeutic option for jugular paragangliomas is complete excision of tumor with preservation of vital neurovascular structures. The combined therapeutic approach with preoperative selective embolization followed by surgical resection is the safe and effective method for complete excision of tumors with a reduced morbidity rate. Irradiation (gamma knife) is an effective therapy method for residual jugular paraganglioma.

Unusual Location of Primary Hydatid Cyst: Soft Tissue Mass in the Parapharyngeal Region

Hydatid cyst is a cyclozoonotic infection caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. Hydatid cyst in the head and neck region is very rare, even in countries where echinococcus infestation is endemic. We report the case of a 17-year-old male patient presenting with a hydatid cyst in the parapharyngeal and neck region. There was no pulmonary or hepatic involvement. The definitive therapy comprised excision of the cystic mass and postoperative medical treatment.

Composite cartilage island grafts in type 1 tympanoplasty: audiological and otological outcomes.

Tympanoplasty is a surgical procedure used for eradicating chronic middle ear infection and for reconstructing hearing in infected ears. Independent from the graft placing technique, the atrophy and the insufficiency of the graft material would be seen. For cases at high risk for failure, such as recurrent perforations, total perforations, and severely atelectatic tympanic membranes, many surgeons have used cartilage as a grafting material because of its increased stability and resistance to negative middle ear pressure. Various cartilage grafting techniques have been described, including the palisade, cartilage island, and cartilage shield. In our study, we investigated audiological and otological outcomes of tympanoplasty type 1 with composite cartilage island grafts. Between 2004 and 2008, 100 cases of composite cartilage island tympanoplasty were identified. A total of 74 patients were attended to in this study. Graft take was evaluated in all patients, and postoperative complications were noted. Hearing results were analyzed by comparing the preoperative and postoperative pure-tone average air-bone gap. Graft take was accomplished in 72 patients (97.29%). There was no graft lateralization or displacement in the middle ear. The mean postoperative pure-tone average air-bone gap improvement was 20.2 dB at 500 Hz, 23.58 dB at 1000 Hz, 22.23 dB at 2000 Hz, and 24.79 at 4000 Hz. Our study indicates that composite cartilage island tympanoplasty has a high degree of reliability and excellent hearing improvement especially in patients at high risk for graft failure.

Schwannoma of the hard palate.

About half of all neurogenic tumors are seen in the head and neck region. The types of neurogenic tumors must be distinguished. Schwannomas originate from Schwann cells of the neural sheath and are solitary, well-encapsulated, slow-growing adjacent to the parental nerve but extrinsic to the nerve fascicles.Approximately 25% to 45% of all schwannomas are seen in the head and neck region and are found rarely in the oral cavity. Most of the intraoral schwannomas are located in the tongue. Other less common locations are the buccal mucosa, palate, base of the mouth, gingiva, and lips.In this study, we report a rare case of schwannoma of the hard palate, which was excised intraorally.

Congenital vocal cord paralysis.

Congenital stridor is rare. The most common presentation for congenital stridor is chronic loud breathing since birth. It is noticed in patients by the first 4 to 6 weeks of life. There are many causes of congenital stridor. Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of congenital stridor. Congenital vocal cord paralysis is the second most common cause of congenital stridor. Vocal cord paralysis in infants and children can be either congenital or acquired and either unilateral or bilateral. Although most commonly the paralysis is idiopathic, there are many causes of acquired vocal cord paralysis. Arnold-Chiari malformation is the most common congenital central nervous system abnormality resulting in vocal cord paralysis, and central nervous system abnormalities usually may cause bilateral vocal cord paralysis. In this article, we report 2 patients with idiopathic congenital vocal cord paralysis. One of them has the unilateral vocal cord paralysis, and the other, bilateral.

Symptomatic Unilateral Submandibular Gland Aplasia Associated with Ipsilateral Sublingual Gland Hypertrophy

Aplasia or agenesis of the salivary gland is an uncommon disorder. Since Gruber first described a case of bilateral submandibular gland aplasia in 1885, about 30 cases have been reported in the world medical literature [1]. One or all of the glands may be absent. The absence of all major salivary glands was the most frequently encountered pattern in the reported cases [1, 2]. Other developmental anomalies could be found in association with aplasia of the salivary glands, such as atresia of the lacrimal puncta, mandibulofacial dysostosis (Treacher-Collins syndrome), or congenital malformations of the temporomandibular component [3, 4]. Unilateral aplasia of the submandibular gland is an extremely rare disorder and only 11 cases have been reported since Bruno described the first case encountered during a cadaver dissection in 1894. Most reported cases of unilateral submandibular aplasia were asymptomatic, probably because secretions from other salivary glands compensated for the aplasia [5]. Congenital unilateral absence of the submandibular gland is an isolated phenomenon and may result from other unique defects of early fetal development, unlike the cause of multiglandular agenesis associated with other facial anomalies [6]. In this study we report on a extremely rare case of isolated unilateral submandibular aplasia presenting with xerostomia and dysphagia which is associated with ipsilateral sublingual gland hypertrophy.